Raised locally through Spirit of Children’s Spirit Halloween stores last fall, the money will be used to help support healing for the hospital’s pediatric patients and their families
When a family comes to South Texas Health System Children’s, they can expect more than just quality emergency or specialty care for their child. Through its dedicated Child Life Department, STHS Children’s provides developmental, educational, social and emotional support to its pediatric patients by way of special activities and programs, which take special funding and community support.
Over the years, Spirit of Children has raised funds locally through its Spirit Halloween stores in the Rio Grande Valley and generously donated a portion of the proceeds to the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System, which in turn donated the funds to the hospital’s Child Life Department, allowing for the purchase of sensory and educational items and more. During the first three years of the partnership, STHS Children’s received $86,659.00.
On Thursday, February 10, STHS Children’s will be joined by Spirit of Children’s for a check presentation in the amount of $51,399.00 — bringing the four-year total to $138,058.00. In addition to continuing to support the existing Child Life services, this funding will help establish an exciting new venture at the hospital that’s guaranteed to help bring smiles to the faces of the young patients in our care and their families.
| Who: | South Texas Health System Children’s, Auxiliary to South Texas Health System & Spirit of Children |
| What: | Spirit of Children check presentation |
| When: | Thursday, February 10, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
| Where: | STHS Children’s Main Lobby (socially distanced event, masks must be worn please) South Texas Health System Children’s 1102 W. Trenton Rd. Edinburg, TX 78539 |
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level II Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About Auxiliary to South Texas Health System
The Auxiliary of South Texas Health System is comprised of men and women who donate not only their time assisting in the various departments throughout the facilities that make up South Texas Health System. The non-profit organization also raises money for educational scholarships to students within the Rio Grande Valley, continuing education assistance to STHS employees, and donations for other not-for-profit organizations within the community. The Auxiliary is able to give generous financial donations each year through money raised from the gift shop and various fundraising projects.About Spirit of Children
At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children, a program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. Since its inception in 2007, Spirit of Children has brought smiles, laughter and a much-needed escape to thousands of pediatric patients in 147 hospitals across the United States and Canada. One hundred percent of the money collected each year is given directly to the Child Life Departments at local partner hospitals, such as South Texas Health System Children’s. Spirit of Children raised over $12 million in 2020, bringing its total collections total to more than $77 million since the program’s inception. Spirit encourages customers to help make a difference in a child’s life by donating at their local Spirit Halloween in season, donating online anytime at SpiritHalloween.com or spreading awareness via Facebook and Instagram by using #SpiritofChildren and #MoreCowbell in their photos. For more information, please visit: SpiritOfChildren.com.
